Working in the railroad industry comes with a host of job risks. Customers on trains and those attempting to illegally access railroad infrastructure might become violent. Their actions could injure railroad employees. Workers also have a constant risk of accidental contact with trains or the possibility of falling off of a platform.
Fires and explosions could lead to severe injuries. Railroad employees are also at risk when loading or unloading cargo. Even dropping off loaded train cars and picking up others can lead to injury caused by heavy machinery, such as crushing injuries.
However, one of the most persistent and extreme safety risks that railroad workers face is easy to overlook despite being relatively dramatic. Given that so few passengers suffer injuries or die in derailments, people often think of them as rare. However, train derailments are surprisingly common and can lead to severe injuries or even death for the people employed by railroads.
How often do trains derail?
Derailments are a common issue that can lead to property damage, severe injuries and major travel challenges. Issues ranging from debris or vehicles on the tracks to poorly maintained train cars can lead to part or all of a train coming off of the tracks. When a train derails, catastrophe often follows. According to federal railway incident data reviewed by NPR, derailments occur approximately three times every day somewhere in the United States. Many of these derailments involve cargo trains, not passenger trains. Although passengers avoid injury in these incidents, workers are still at risk.
A derailment could lead to broken bones, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and crushing injuries that could necessitate surgical amputations. Workers hurt when a train derails may have physical symptoms that prevent them from working for weeks or longer and may have mental trauma that will affect their ability to continue working in the same profession.
Railroad workers injured in a derailment or those who lose a loved one in a tragic incident have different rights than those hurt in other professions. They will typically need to file a lawsuit under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) instead of simply filing a workers’ compensation claim. Most of the time, such lawsuits require professional guidance. As a result, those hurt while “workin’ on the railroad” can generally benefit from seeking legal guidance as soon as they can.